I've been a "shredder" shortly after I started playing in 1980, and am now at a point where I can pick out imperfections in a players playing... Be it Vai, Satch, or Yngwie(not hard to do in his case). I'm not bragging...my point is - dont make this the only goal you set for yourself and your playing - someday "shredding" will not give you the goosebumps it once did. Rhythm guitar and composition are more intresting to me these days.